§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will say what supervision, if any, the Government exercise in regard to the nature and quality of the whiskey and other spirits consumed by the public; if he has any official reports showing that the increase of lunacy and crime in this country is largely due to bad drink now being sold as genuine malt whiskey and brandy; whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to the laws in force in other countries for the protection of the public against the sale of deleterious blends and other objectionable alcoholic liquors; whether the Excise Department possess a record of the materials used in distillation by every distillery in the three kingdoms; and, if so, whether he will grant a Return showing the nature of those materials used by each distiller for the year 1903.
§ * THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonThe Government do not exercise any supervision as regards the nature and quality of the whiskey and other spirits consumed by the public, the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act in this connection
† See (4) Debates, cxix., 1440.302 being administered by the local authorities. I am not aware of any such reports as those to which the hon. and learned Member refers, and I do not think that a Return of the legislation in other countries would be likely to serve any useful purpose. The Revenue authorities possess a record of materials used in distillation, and the totals are published annually in the Statistical Abstract. A Return of the materials used by each individual distiller would be a very invidious one, and I cannot think it desirable.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is invidious for the reason that it might be published? Then the honest man would have a chance.
§ * MR. GROVESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a simple process by which in four hours an equivalent of two years maturing and perfect purity may be obtained?
§ MR. RITCHIEsaid he had no doubt that individual purchasers could easily procure pure spirits if they went about it, but he did not quite understand what the point of the hon. Member was.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIs not the difference that this stuff is not whiskey?
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg also to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any official reports showing that guarantees and statements as to age affixed by blenders to whiskey bottled in bond are often false or exaggerated; and, if so, will he explain why such marking of whiskey is allowed under Government auspices where age is a vital point; why the Revenue Boards of Customs and Excise refuse to officially guarantee the age of whiskey bottled in bond, which they know to be correct, but allow incorrect descriptions to be used by blenders; whether he is aware that certificates of analysis from leading analysts to give colour to frauds are often placed on the bottles, also under Government supervision; and whether he will issue instructions to put an end to all these practices in Government warehouses.
§ MR. RITCHIEI am not aware of any such official reports as those to which the hon. and learned Member refers. The question of exercising control over labels affixed to goods in bond is one which cannot possibly be adequately discussed within the limits of an answer to a Question. The practice of the Revenue Boards is to limit themselves almost entirely to prohibiting the use of labels implying any Government guarantee of accuracy, and to preventing any gross misdescription of foreign spirits as British and vice versâ. I cannot undertake to alter this practice, for the reason (amongst others) that, the moment spirits have been taken out of bond, the control exercised by the Boards must cease.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYMay I ask whether a predecessor of the right hon Gentleman, twelve or fifteen years ago, did not give a Special Committee to enquire into the entire question which led to important reforms, notably in the case of stamping out grogging, and whether the right hon. Gentleman will consider the desirability of a fresh enquiry to deal with the new evils which undoubtedly have cropped up.
§ MR. RITCHIEI shall always be ready to consider any representations made to me in regard to any inquiry into this or any other matter, and if further communication between the hon. Gentleman and myself leads me to the conclusion that good would be derived from such an inquiry I shall be happy to consider the matter.